Hitch device



May 1956 H. E. ALTGELT 2,746,370

HITCH DEVICE Filed March 28, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 i INVENTOR.

HERMAN E. ALTGELT g BY TORNEY May 22, 1956 H. E. ALTGELT 2,746,370

HITCH DEVICE Filed March 28, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 N m Mn-- a JNVENTOR.

' HERMAN EALTGELT TORNEY May 22, 1956 Filed March 28, 1952 H. E. ALTGELT HITCH DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

HERMAN E. ALTGELT RNEY rn'ron nnvro'n HermankE. Altgelt Moline llh, assignortoDeere- & Company, Moline, -Ill., a corporation of lllinois Application March 28, 1952, S'eiial"No. Z79,199

6 Claims. '(Cl.Y97--47.'I4)

:The present invention r relates ,generally to agricultural implementstand more particularly to hitch deviees for.con meetingaground-engaging, ground=working, or'ggroundsfollowing implements with tractors .having propelling and raising and: lowering "meansfor receiving, supporting and ipropellingithe'associated implements.

zTheobjectandgeneral nature ofthegpresent invention is :ihe provision of'a-new'and improved :hitch device for connectingan implement with-a tractorin-such a wayas to rfacilitate attaching .and detaching the: implement' while, .atzthe same vtime, ,permittingthe implement vtomove relativeato thetractor when in operation, whereby the: implementimay readily follow .uneven ground surface. More specificallyfltisa feature of -thisinvention toprovide anew .andlimprovedhitchdevicewhich-includesr a supporting or attaching flame-adapted .to be connected directly 'with .the tractonand lwith ground-engaging or ground-working means is .liexilily connected, with means whereby, whenihe implementis disconnected fromihe tractor, the supporting orrattaching'iframe may'be supported onfthe implement .in a position to readily Tfac'ilitate reconnecting .the iimplement with the tractor. 'Still further, another .featureof the, present invention is'theprovision of means for supporting an attaching -01 supporting 'frame on an implement or'implement units, when the attaching or supaortingframeis disconnected 'from its propelling'tractor, with (means whereby the implement 'oriimplement units "are readilym'oved relative. to the supporting or attaching ffraniefinioperation when ithe frame is carried 'by the traitor. :An additionalfeature 'of'this invention is the provision *of amew andiimproved la'tch'meansfo'r nemtatingfrhe "connection and disconnection of the -attaching "or snpportingirame relative to "thetractor; particularly'a ftractorfdfthe type .having upper "and .Tlowe'r links and associatehuraisingand lowering means.

Theseandntirer' hiects and advantages *of-the present iinven'tionwill be apparenttdthose skillerlin theartiafter a description ftheprferreiiembodiment iofllllis invention, taken in conjunctionwit'hthe accompanyingfdrawshowing the samerel-ative to thetra'ctorwhen theimfile fratent nnits areraiseii into their transport position.

ifii'gnre -s :is a-view similar to-Figure 4, showing thepos'i- :tsions ofi the several "par-tswhen'th'esupporting or attaching firame i's s' 'pporte'd-on .the' implementin a*position"'faeilitdtin g'ttlie reeorinection ofthe hitch device -and implement units withrflre associated propelling tractor.

United States PatentO Figure 6 is an enlarged-detail view Of aiPOi'fiOD: of the means which carries the attachingframewonthe implement whenthe framezis disconnected from' the-tractor.

Figure 7 is a view. similar to iFigures-4':and.5,zshowing the implement .unitsa'nd associated parts intherposit-ions they occupy when inoperation.

Referring first to Figure- 4, the hitch device of ilre 'presentinvention is indicated in its entirety ".'by the..reference numeral .10="and is shown. in the accompanying" drawings as connecting (a pluralityof implement units in thesform of peg tooth harrowisections 11 to .a-tractor 1210f :the type -which:includes a pair of rear ttraction wheels :"13 carried on axle shafts 14 that are ,journaled inranaile housing at the'rear ofthe tractor. .Thelattenalsoincludes a power lift-structure 15 which icomprises a=transverse rockshaft .16 ion whicha pair of vertically sswingableglift arms 17 are :fixed. The 'tractor 12ealso includes an attaching linkage 19 which comprisesapairyof: lower links 21,-pr'eferably connected togetherbyfa crossbar22 QFig- .ure. 1) torform arigid vertically-swingable bailistrueture, and an uppercompression linkmemb'er :23. Thedatter preferably is a-bifurcated structure andihasaits-forward endspivotally connected, asat 24,-to the lift arms IL-rand .the forward ends of the lower links 21, which -with the crossbar 22 comprise a bail 25, are pivotally-connectediat 26 we pair of .draftbrackets:27--carried1by'theireanportion of thertractor, one at eachrside ofrtheiaxle housiug. like lift .arms are connected at their rear ends "through links 28 with the linksv 21, wherebydifting=movement:imparted .tothetliftiarms 17.is transmitted .tothe and i may :therefore be used I to raise i the implement-1mm nected' withihe-itractorinto its trans Drtposition. best shownlin l figure .1,.the upper. link member 23icom- ,piises .a pair of rrearwardly converging bars e23a :fixei'l vtogether adjacentttheirrear ends by a cross ;pin.31,- whidh .servesasmeans for .conneeting andmplement or implement part to the tractor. The -tractor.-12'also;=includes suitablepower means for .controllably aetuatingtherrock shaft'l'fi.

'TThe hitch device 10, in which-the principles-bf the present invention have been incorporated, includes an upper supporting or attaching frame ;andspecial-l-y Iforrned link means 36 forconnecting the,peg tooth..harrow sect-ions 11,: or other implement means, .to the frame $5. The latterisimadeup ofatransversezfront-barS, a. rear transverse bar 39:, end bars 41 secured, as by welding,=to.'the ends ofthefront and rear'barst38- andr39. 1A1- so securedtofthe .ends of the latter barsrisaa plurality' rof laterally outwardly extending pairs =of brackets 42 athat are aperture'd to receive suitable pivot means by which is attached to the tractor, the hitch pins 53- lieimmediately ahead of thecrossbar 22 of the bail 25 when the crossbar 122 seats'in the socket members 50. The upper sectioniBl extends forwardly beyond-the end of the lower section'l'52 to facilitate "bringing the.crossbar into seating position in the socket members "50.

supporting frame -35is a'vertical plate sectionfil thetis secured at its lower end, asby Winding, to the forward side of the front frame bar 38. Forward brace bars 63 are secured, as by welding, at the laterally inner ends to the upper end portion of the vertical plate 61 and extend downwardly and laterally outwardly, generally in the vertical transverse plane of the front bar 38, and are fixed, as by welding, to the laterally outer-end-portions of the front cross frame bar 38, as indicated at 64 in the left-hand portion of Figure l. The upper end of the vertical plate 61 is also provided with a pair of laterally outwardly and rearwardly extending apertured cars 66 which receive the rearwardly turned ends of a pair of rod braces 67 that extend downwardly laterally outwardly and rearwardly to attaching brackets 68 that are fixed to the laterally outer end portionsof' the rear frame bar 39, relatively closely adjacent the rear and laterally outer ends of die horizontal brace bars 48. Centrally of the frame 35, generally underneath the draft angles 45, is'a pair of fore-and-aft extending bars 71, the 'bars 71 being disposed generally in parallelism with respect to the end bars 41 and fastened to the front and rear frame bars 38 and 39 in a similar manner.

A mast section 75 is fixed to the forward portion of the frame 35 and comprises a generally vertical bar 76 having an upwardly forwardly extending section 77. The

- lower portion of the mast section 75 is fixed to the vertical v ground-following implement units, are connected with the frame 35 by means which are especially constructed and arranged to support the frame 35 in an elevated position when the implement units and the associated hitch frame are disconnected from the tractor. Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, two pairs of bracket plates 91 are fixed in any suitable way, as by welding, to the rear frame bar 39. A link member 92 is received between the bracket plates 91 of each pair and at its lower end each link 92 is pivotally connected, as at 93, to an attaching bracket 94- that is fixedto and forms a part of the center frame bar 95 of the associated peg tooth harrow section '11. Each section 11 is of conventional construction, so far as the principles of the-present invention are concerned, each section including a plurality of tooth bars 96 and a pair of suitably formed end bars 97. At its forward end each harrow section 11 is connected with the frame 35 through a pair of generally vertical links 101. Each link 101 is pivotally connected at its lower end, as at 102, with the forward end of the associated harrow section end bar 97, and at its upper end each link member 101 is connected, as at 103, with the forward end of the associated frame bar 41. i

The upper end of each of the two rear links 92 is slotted,

- as at 105, each slot 105 extending generally vertically or 7 longitudinally of the associated link 92, and a pivot pin 106, carried by the associated bracket plates 91, is disposed' in the slot 105 of the associated link 92. An extension 107 is formed at the forward side of the upper end of each of the links 92 and is adapted to cooperate with an abutment pin 108 fixedly carried by the associated the slotted upper end of the link 92, for when the barrow is raised the links 92 are limited in their forward swinging by the pins 108, as will be seen from Figure 4. The walls ofthe socket 110 are so angled, with respect to the slot 105, that when the frame 35 and links 92 are arranged as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the links 92, and also the links 101, are held against swinging relative to either the attaching frame 35 or the associated implement means 11.

However, looking at Figures 5 and 7, when the frame 35 is connected with the tractor and the latter driven forwardly, the links 92 and 101 move into a generally trailing position, the links 101 serving as draft-transmitting means connecting the frame 35 and the implement unit 11. .The length of the rear links 92, particularly the slots 105 thereof, is such that normally the pins 106 occupy a position about half way between the ends of the associated slots 105, whereby the implement unit 11 may swing upwardly or downwardly at its rear end relative to the frame 35, the latter being carried generally by the tractor and limited in its downward movement by the associated power lift mechanism that is connected with the bail 25 to the lift arms 17 and lift links 28.

The upper end portion 77 of the mast bar 76 is formed with an upwardly facing socket 115, formed as best shown in Figure 3. The upper portion 77 of the mast section is bifurcated to form the socket 115 and the rear portion is formed with a vertical slot to receive a latch lever 116 and is apertured, as at 117, to receive a pivot 118 by which the latch lever 116 is mounted for rocking movement on the mast section. The latch lever 116 includes aforward nose section 121 extending partially into the socket 115 and a rear or handlesection 122 that is extended rearwardly an appreciable amount. The slotted portion of the upper end of the mast, as indicated at 123, is formed to serve as a stop to limit the downward swinging of the latch lever 116 beyond the position shown in Figure 3. The latch lever 116 may, however, be swung upwardly to permit the pin '31 to lie in the bottom of the socket 115. The lower portion of the socket 115 is provided with forward and rearward recesses 124 and 125 shaped so that normal operating stresses serve to hold the pin 31 either in the recess 124 or in the recess 125. In operation, as shown in Figure 7, the mast section 76 tends to be swung forwardly at its upper end, thereby introducing compressive stresses in the upperlink 23, and as a result the pivot pin 31 tends to lie in the rear recess 125 (Figure 3). On the other hand, when the tractor power lift is operated to swing the lift arms 17 and the bail 25 upwardly to hold the implement unit 7 suspended out of contact with the ground for transport purposes the upper end of the mast section 77 tends to swing rearwardly, and therefore the upper link 23 is subjected to tension and the pivot pin 31 tends to lie inthe forward notch 124, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. In either case, of course, the pin iskept from becoming dislodged and released from the socket 115 by the lever 116. However, when the latch 116 is manually swung upwardly, the nose section 121 moves rearwardly and permits the pin 31 to readily move out of the upper end of the socket 115. 1

If it should be desired to use more than two implement units 11, the outrigger frames 44 mentioned above may-be provided. Each of these frames, there being one at each side of the attaching frame 35, is constructed similarly to the attaching frame 35 and includes front and rear bars 131 and 132, with associated end bars 133. Each of the outrigger frames carries upwardly extending brackets 135, and each of the latter brackets is connected by tension links 138 with a bracket 139 that is formed on the front and rear frame bars 38 and 39. The brackets 139 are reenforced by suitable gussets 141, and the upper end of each of the brackets 139 is apertured to receive the inner threaded end of the tension rod 138. The threaded end carries a lock nut 142 by which the outrigger frames 44 may be leveled with respect to the inner frames. The laterally innermost ends of the front and rear outrigger frame bars 131 and 132 are pivotally connected, .as at 144, with the pivot brackets 42 mentioned above, the bracket plates 42 being fixed at the ends to the front and to another, the trac tor powerlift apparatus is placed in operationtoraise the bail 25 substantially to the position shown in Figure 4. This acts through the attachingrframe "While '"l' lraye shown and jdescribeil: aboveithe prferred 'struc turein 'whichtheiprineiples of the -"present*invent ion hav been incorporated, it is to he "understood that. my

inventions not to be limited "to the particular -dtalils, shown "andiiescribed abovefbntzthat, in' facg'widely differ .le'nt meansmaybe employed'in thepractice dfthebroaiter aspects ofrnyin-vention. p

. What"I-'c1aim,therefore,and desireto securebyitettdrs "Patenfis: j v I II. "In an agricultural implement, a propelling 'frame, draft transmitting links spaced apart fore-anthem, i me'ans for pivotally connectingrthe forwardlink'with 3the"'trame and plementwherebywhen flrefframe"ispropelled atong the ground 'af prop'elling force is transmitted-to the implement, means "for pivotally connecting the "lower 'end "of t the rear link'with saidimplement, 'thenpper'end'of'said 35 and associated links 92 and 1 01 to suspend theim- ,plement units 11 in a raised position, I entirely out of contact with the ground. As mentioned above, during this operation the upper link 23 is subjected to tensile forces, and'the pin 31 at the rear end-of the upp r link fifi'normallylies in the forward recess 1-24 (dottedalines, Figure :3). When the operator reaches the fieldto be worked, the tractor power lift is operated so as tolower the implement onto theground, the ,parts moving substantially to the' positions shown inFigure 7, in which the implement units 11 trail, draft being transmitted thereto substantially entirely through the forward links When it is desired to storethe implement, the latter is raised into a transport position and the outfit driven to the point of storage. The operator then actuates the tractor power lift to lower the implement units to the ground. As the implement units 11 approach the ground,

the rearmost portions first contact the ground, and then as the power lift is actuated to cause the bail to lower further, the resulting downward movement of the frame relative to the implement causes the abutment pins 108' to settle into the sockets 110. During this action the forces on the link 23 are reversed, that is, the pin 31 at the rear end of the upper link 23 starts to move out of the forward, notch 124 (dotted lines, Figure 3) toward the other notch 125. At thistime', the operator manipulates the latch lever 116, raising the rear end upwardly and, at the same time, applies an upwardly directed force against the upper link 23. Therefore, at the moment that the pin 31 clears the forward recess 124, the operator can raise the rear link 23 entirely out of the notch 115.

\Before beginning the lowering operation, the operator will have pulled out thehitch pins 53, and therefore as soon as the implement units 11 settle onto the ground,

7 the frame 35, supported as just mentioned, raising'or lowering the bail 25 so as to cause the crossbar 22 to enter the socket members 50. At this time, the upper link 23 of the tractor draft linkage will occupy the position shown in Figure 5, with the pin 31 thereof rear wardly of the notch 115. However, the pin is supported by the extension 122 of the latch lever 116 so that, as will be seen from Figure 3, when'the crossbar 22 is seated in the socket members 50, the hitch members 53 reinserted, and the power lift actuated to raise the implement, the upper end of the mast 77 shifts rearwardly and substantially immediately the pin 31 reaches and falls into the socket 115. The latchlever 116 is free to pivot upwardly as the pin 31 passes into the socket 115. Thus, the upper link 23 of the tractor is automatically connected with the upper portion of the implement mast structure.

rear link having a slotexre'nding generally longitudinally thereof, "apivot member'carried' by saidfram'ei andextend ing through said slot for pivotally connectingsa'id "rear lirik With'said frame, 'a'nupwardly facing socket carr'ied by 'saidrear link "adjacent saidsl-ot, "and an abutment carried by "said-frame :andadap'ted to be received "by said socket forflocki'n'g therear link 'against'pivoting relative tosaid frame when'the rear link isinia generally'upright position and said frame is'lowered "relative to "the rear 'link to cause 'saidgpivot member-"to 'm'ove'to 'the lower "end df said'slot, r

2. In "an agricultural implement, apropelling "frame, draft-transmitting links spaced apart fore-and-aft, means for pivotally connecting the forward link with the frame and implement whereby when the frame is propelled along theground a propelling force is transmitted to the implement, one end ofthe rear link having a slot extending generally longitudinally thereof, a pivot member extending through said slot for pivotally connected one end of therear link with the associated one of said implement and frame, means pivotally connecting the other end of said rear link with the other of said implement and frame, a socket carried by said one end of said rear link adjacent said slot, and an abutment carried by said one of said implement and frame and adapted to be received by said socket for locking the rear link against pivoting relative to said frame when the rear link is in a generally uprightposition and said frame is lowered relative to the rear link to cause said pivot member to move to the lower end of said slot.

3. A tractor mounted agricultural implement, comprising a supporting frame adapted to be detachably carried on the tractor, a ground-engaging implement unit, rigid link means pivotally connected with said frame and implement unit for suspending said unit from said frame for transport and for trailingly connecting said unit with said frame for ground-engaging operation, an extension on at least one of said link means, said one link means being movable relative to said frame and implement unit, and means carried by said frame and movable along and guided by an edge of said one link means into a position engaging said extension for holding the frame in an elevated position relative to the implement unit when said frame is disconnected from the tractor.

4. An agricultural machine adapted to be connected with a tractor having implement propelling means adapted to be raised and lowered, said machine comprising a sup- I porting frame adapted to be releasably connected with said implement propelling means, a ground-engaging unit, suspension links connecting said unit with said frame, means connecting .one of said links with one of said frame and unit and providing for a limited amount of generally vertical and pivotal movement of said frame toward said unit, link-engaging means on said one of said frame and unit and engaging a portion of said one link to limit swinging of the latter in one direction, and socket means on said one link to engage said link-engaging means and lock said link against movement in the opposite direction.

fo'r-"p'ivotally connecting the forward link with the frame andIimplement whereby when the traine is propelled along the ground a propelling force is transmitted to the implement, means forpivotally connecting the lower end of the rear link with said implement, the upper end of said rear link having a slot extending generally longitudinally thereof, a pivot member carried'by'said frame and extendingthrough said slot for pivotally connecting 'said rear link with said frame, an upwardly facing socket carried by said-rear link adjacent said slot, and an abutment carried by said frame and guidingly engageable with: the adjacent edge of the said rear link when the latter moves relative to the propelling frame as the latter is raised and between one of said links and said frame so as to permit relative movement between said frame and said one link,

1ink enga ging' means carried by" said supporting frame and engageablewith a portion of said link to limit'swinging of said link relative to the supporting frame when the latter is raised, and socket means on said'link to embrace said link-engaging meanswhen the frame'is lowered lowered, the abutment being received by said socket for i locking the rear link against pivoting relative to said frame when'the rear link is in a generally upright position and said frame is lowered; l

6. A hitch device for connecting a ground-following implement with the raising and lowering means of a tractor, .said device comprising a supporting frame having means to receive the raising and lowering means of the tractor, fore-and-aft spaced apart links adapted to be connected for generally fore-and-aft swinging movement at their lower ends with said implement, means for connecting the upper ends of said links with said supporting frame, ,said means including lost-motion means acting relative to the implemeng whereby the frame is'held in upright position on the implement when the supporting frame is disconnected from the tractor raising and lowering means.

References Cited in the file of this patent V p V UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Manly Dec. 25, 1928 2,129,745 Seammell et al. Sept. 13, 1938 2,239,387 Johnson' Apr.'22,1941 2,346,330 Ratclifi Apr. 11, 1944 2,363,749 Rude' Nov. 28, 1944 2,527,355 Cook et al. "Oct. 24, 1950 2,551,870; Bridger May 8, 1951 2,561,614- Dixon July 24, 1951 2,576,780 Court Nov. 27,1951 2,579,086 Oehler Dec. 18, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 602,887 Great Britain -2. June 4, 1948 

